The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-07-08

which occurs early in April is generally
devoted to this amusement. An English
traveller in Japan, who was in Nagasaki
last April, gives an interesting sketch Of
the kite-fying on the hill Of Compira,
near the city. He says:
"It was lovely sunny spring day,
with a strong breeze-almost an ideal
day for kite-fying, as we all agreed. As
our party left the town, we found the
stream of holiday-makers setting toward
Compira, along narrow track which
wound up the valley. To be carried
along in such crowd was in itself
pleasure. The majority were dressed in
their national costume, and in their best
dresses; some in lovely silks, others in
artistic-patterned cotton stuffs. The
children were most delightfully."- quaint
little objects. Dressed in bright-fowered
garments of the same shape as those Of
their elders, the boys with shortcut
black hair, the girls with the hair plas-
tereo and drawn out into curious fantas-
tic curves set off with bit of red stuff,
they trotted quietly along, often holding
their parents hands, and now and again
their merry shrill laughter mingled with
the cheerful clatter of their wooden pat
tens. A goodly proportion of the crowd
was of the fair sex; and many a laughing
trio of girls we saw, with their glossy
black tresses tied up with bit of bright
red, lowered girdles, and ascarlet lining
to the fold of the ksnona, as it lay across
the bosom, harmonizing with the warm
brown tint of the skin. There was no
jostling or pushing. Every one was in
the utmost good humor; and we had
ample opportunity of observing the pro-
verbal politeness of the Japanese Of all
classes.
"Soon the road brought us through q
small hamlet-just a dozen or SO Of
houses. Each house was full of on-look-
ers watching the passers-by. The ada
cent gardens were gay with the bloom Of
numerous fruit trees-almond, plum,
peach, etc.-as well as with lovely
camellias. Here and there by the road
side stood peddler with stores of sweet
meats, rice-balls, ETC., and toys for the
children. At last we arrived at the out
skirts of the fair; just below the brow
of the hill was leveled space, where
rose wooden joss-house, in the court
yard of which were placed dozens OF
stalls. The joss-house was crowded
with devotees and we stayed for
a while to observe them. Each Wor-
shipper, first clapping his hands to
attract the gods attention, would throw
in handful of copper cash, and then,
bowling, humble prayer in an UNI
known tongue Corrupt Sanskrit). The
stalls were filled, some with refresh
ments of various kinds, some with toys.
Among the latter the favorite appeared
to be Notwithstanding Corean tigers,
their heads separate from the body and
SO ingeniously suspended that they
moved with every breath of wind.
There were few children now without
branch of bamboo, with large sugar
fishes or similar sweet efigies hanging
from it.
climbing little higher to the shoulder
of the hill, we found the fun in full
swing. The hillside was black with
people; many had pitched booths Of cam
vas or bamboo, and were picnicking at
their ease, the sake-bottle passing merrily
round, and the shrill voices of geisshd
girls mingling with the high-pitched
notes of their sGnatsens Ia sort of banio).
Dozens of kites were being flown; and
VIC StdtlOuCQ OuISO1tCS UcAluu Ouo 1udu
and watched his proceedings. The kite
wings, but no tail. The upper part Of
the string is armed with powdered glass,
so that when drawn against the unarmed
part of another string it will divide it.
Our friend had just lost kite, and
was sending up another one. 1t soon
scared to a great height and attracted
the attention of the late conqueror. An
exciting contest now began. By strong
jerk and dexterous movement of the
wrist or finger the kite was made to
plunge headlong downward, and then
turned in vast sweeping circles. Pres
emily, after several Intellectual assaults,
the enemy made swoop, but was clev-
erly avoided; and as he sought to regain
his previous elevation he exposed his
string to dashing sweep of our kite.
In trice the two strings were crossed,
and before the enemy could relax his It
was cut, and the freed kite floated
away into the valley. We saw
the victor triumph over several
other kite-fyers; but at last he
lost his own. Crates full of kites
were stationed here and there, and their
owners drove roaring trade Down
in the valley were observed lots of men
and boys armed with long bamboOs, some
perched up in trees and as the severed
kites came plunging down, there was an
eager competition as to who should get
them. A midshipman of our party was
now inspired to try his hand at kite-hy-
ing; his kite was soon soaring at great
elevation, but his pleasure was of short
duration. A Japanese schoolboy offered
battle; and in few seconds tie mex
perienced MILDLY was looking ruefully at
his freed kite sailing away across the
valley, to the amusement of the ON
lockers"
"The peak of the hill still lowered
above us; thin stream Of people was
setting along the path up, and we decided
to join them. We soon gained the sum-
NIT, finding there small rough stone
temple, evidently very ancient, with q
handful of worshipers in it. A truly
magnificent panorama now lay beforeu us;
the lovely harbor of Nagasaki, with the
islands which guard its entrance, among
them the island of Pappenberg, the scene
of the ruthless slaughter of many thou
sand native Christians in the seventeenth
century. Inland were numberless smaller